2nd ASEAN Puppetry Festival “Celebrating ASEAN Puppet Traditions”

From November 29 to December 3, 2006, the 1st ASEAN Puppetry Festival was hosted by Indonesia with all ASEAN member countries represented. Tali Galaw, headed by Mr. Danilo Liwanag, represented the Philippines in the said event. On December 1, 2006, the ASEAN puppetry community formalized the creation of the ASEAN Puppetry Association with the aims of (1) promoting an ASEAN awareness and an ASEAN regional identity, (2) preserving and promoting ASEAN cultural heritage, and (3) fostering dialogue for a deeper understanding of ASEAN civilization, cultures and religions.

After attending the 1st ASEAN Puppetry Festival and the creation of the ASEAN Puppetry Association, Mr. Liwanag decided to contact the pioneers of Philippine puppetry in the hope of organizing the Philippine counterpart of APA. It was in August 2007 that the Samahan ng mga Papetir ng Pilipinas, Inc. (SPP) was established with the following Incorporators and Board of Trustees:

Amihan Bonifacio-Ramolete (Teatrong Mulat ng Pilipinas), President
Danilo Liwanag (Roppets & Tali Galaw), Vice President and Treasurer
Teny Arellano (Anino Shadowplay Collective), Secretary
Lolita Aquino (Black Theater of Manila), Member
Ony Carcamo (ventriloquist), Member

The Philippines, represented by SPP Members Mr. Danilo Liwanag and Prof. Amihan Bonifacio-Ramolete, attended the 1st APA Organizational Meeting from September 6-8, 2007 in Palembang, Indonesia. The Philippines was Rapporteur of the meeting. The agenda included: the discussion of the APA Constitution and By-Laws, elections of the Secretary General, Director of Programme, and Treasurer, the Palembang Plan of Action, prioritization of projects, and the APA website. The 2nd APA Meeting is scheduled on December 2008 in Indonesia.

The Objective of the 2nd ASEAN Puppetry Festival

1. Create awareness and appreciation for various puppetry forms in ASEAN countries;
2. Encourage cooperation among artists and experts in the field of puppetry;
3. Serve as venue for cultural and artistic exchange among puppet artists and enthusiasts; and
4. Promote and enhance each country’s puppet tradition.

The Samahan ng mga Papetir ng Pilipinas (SPP) organized the 1st Philippine Puppetry Festival dubbed as “Hindi Tao, Hindi Hayop. . . May Buhay?” from August 13-15, 2008 at the Tanghalang Huseng Batute, Cultural Center of the Philippines. Six puppet forms, namely black theater, ventriloquism, shadow puppetry, hand puppetry, rod puppetry and string puppetry, were presented during the festival. After giving the Filipino audience a taste of Philippine puppetry, SPP deemed it necessary to introduce the very rich and colorful puppet traditions of the ASEAN member countries to the receptive Filipino audience.

Since the priority objective of the APA is “organizing exhibitions, festivals and exchange of artists and experts in the field of puppetry among the countries of ASEAN, and also internationally” was ranked as no. 1 and the APA Secretariat has expressed the desire to hold the 3rd meeting in the Philippines, the SPP resolved to host and integrate the 3rd meeting into the 2nd ASEAN Puppetry Festival to be held in November 2009. However, due to the aftermath of Typhoon Ondoy and Pepeng, and upon the recommendation of the APA Secretariat, Papet ASEAN was rescheduled to February 23-28, 2010.

Papet ASEAN 2010 was held at the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City. The 3rd Meeting of the ASEAN Puppetry Association (APA) was conducted at the Pulungang CM Recto, Bulwagang Rizal, College of Arts & Letters while the 2nd ASEAN Puppetry Festival was held at the Abelardo Hall Auditorium.

Papet ASEAN 2010 had 3 components: APA Organizational Meeting, performances and seminar.
The Agenda for the 3rd Meeting of the ASEAN Puppetry Association (APA) (Feb. 23-26/Pulungang CM Recto) included a discussion on APA and APA members’ accomplishments for the year 2009 as well as projects aimed at preserving, developing and promoting cooperation among puppetry communities in the 10 ASEAN member countries.

The 2nd ASEAN Puppetry Festival (Feb. 25-26/Abelardo Hall Auditorium) showcased various puppetry forms found in the ASEAN region, namely Indonesia, the Philippines, and Singapore, to create awareness and appreciation among the younger generation; promote better understanding among peoples & nations in the ASEAN region; and serve as a venue for cultural and artistic exchange among puppet artists and enthusiasts.

The Seminar on Puppetry in Education (Feb. 25, 4pm, Pulungang CM Recto) served as a venue for culturaland artistic exchange among puppet experts/artists on the topic: “How Puppetry Makes a Difference: The ASEAN Experience.”

The delegates to the 3rd Meeting of the ASEAN Puppetry Association included puppet artists and experts from Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, and Vietnam.

The participants to the 2nd ASEAN Puppetry Festival included: Anino Shadowplay Collective Philippines (shadow puppetry), Wayang Sandosa (wayang kulit, Indonesia), Roppets Edutainment (table puppetry & muppets, Philippines) and Mascots and Puppets Specialists (marionettes, Singapore).

The Seminar speakers included delegates who were puppet artists/experts from Indonesia (Drs. Suparmin Sunjoyo, Drs. Hari Suwasono and Amb. Tupuk Sutrisno), Malaysia (Dr. Ghulam Sarwar-Yousof), and Singapore (Dr. Chua Soo Pong).

Beneficiaries of PAPET ASEAN 2010 included:

• children from orphanages namely Hospicio de San Jose, Precious Heritage Children Ministry, and Families and Children for Empowerment and Development Foundation, Inc.;
• school children from Glendale School,Woodrow School, Centro Montessori School and Family Montessori School; and college students from College of St. Benilde and University of the Philippines watched the festival performances;
• educators, parents and other adults also witnessed the puppet performances;
• the delegates and performers themselves had the opportunity to engage themselves in cultural and artistic exchange.

DAY 1 (Feb 23) – Arrival of Participants

• Umagang kay ganda guesting featuring SPP representatives; Antonio Liwanag, Carlo Magno, Nielson Manapat and Casius Ramirez
• Preliminary Meeting at Eurotel with the Directors of APA and Mr. Danilo Liwanag

DAY 2 (Feb. 24) – Festival Opening

• First session of 3rd meeting of ASEAN Puppetry Association
• Welcome Dinner hosted by UP Diliman Chancellor Sergio Cao

Festival Opening

First session

Welcome Dinner

DAY 3 (Feb. 25) – APA Meeting

• 10 am & 2:30 pm Performances of Indonesia & Philippines
• Seminar on “How Puppetry Makes a Difference: The ASEAN Experience”
• Wayang Sandosa by Indonesia
• Anino Shadow play Collective
• Seminar on “How Puppetry Makes a Difference: The ASEAN Experience”

Wayang Sandosa

Anino Shadow Play Collective

DAY 4 (Feb 26)

• Meeting
• Interaction of Wayang Sandosa members with UP College of Music students
• 10 am & 2:30 pm Performances of Philippines & Singapore
• Festival Closing
• Second Session of APA meeting
• Teatro Itim performance
• Closing Ceremonies of the 2nd ASEAN puppetry festival

Teatro Itim performance

DAY 5 (Feb 26) – Tour of Intramuros

DELEGATES TO THE 3RD MEETING OF THE ASEAN PUPPETRY ASSOCIATION (APA)

OBSERVERS

PARTICIPANTS TO THE 2ND ASEAN PUPPETRY FESTIVAL

ORGANIZING COMMITTEE